Miami Twp. fire chief to retire

Whitworth

Fire Chief Jim Whitworth will retire Aug. 23 after more than 40 years in the fire and emergency medical field.

"After much personal and professional soul searching, I have decided to retire," Whitworth wrote in an email to township officials June 25.

Whitworth has been with Miami Township Fire and EMS since 1992, he said.

Whitworth received an offer to work with the adult fire program at Great Oaks in Sharonville, said Trustee Mary Makley Wolff.

"I was not looking for a job. I planned to work another two years for Miami Township and then retire," Whitworth said. "But an opportunity was presented that made me think maybe it's about time to go."

Wolff said he was given an offer he couldn't refuse.

"He's getting a chance at a second act in life, and don't we all wish we had that?" she said.

After finding out about Great Oaks' interest, Whitworth took about three weeks to make his decision, he said.

Those three weeks involved "many sleepless nights," but he finally decided the department would still be in good hands without him, Whitworth said.

"He's done a remarkably good job. We will be sad to see him go," Wolff said. "We'll have our work cut out for us (finding a replacement)."

But change doesn't always have to be bad, she said.

"We look forward to bringing on a new chief and new ideas - you have to be excited about the opportunities that lie in the change of command," Wolff said. "I choose to view change as a positive thing."